Alan Smith has been recalled to the England squad as a central midfielder after Sven-Goran Eriksson kept his promise that the Manchester United player's international career was not over.

Smith caused controversy when he rejected a call-up for the friendly against Denmark in August, believing his fitness would be better served by playing for the United reserves than sitting on the England bench.

In shouldering the blame for a mix-up over Smith's fitness, Eriksson insisted at the time that "I have nothing against him and it doesn't mean he is out for the future".

Smith will nevertheless still have been relieved to see his name in the 24-man squad announced last night for the World Cup qualifiers against Austria on Saturday and Poland four days later.

Having earned his 15 caps as a striker, he is included among eight midfielders, having been earmarked to replace the injured Roy Keane in the United side recently.

With Owen Hargreaves and Michael Carrick both out injured, Eriksson rejected the chance to call up in-form duo Scott Parker and Danny Murphy - and instead summoned Smith.

The United midfielder may still not start Saturday's game, with Eriksson set to revert to his normal 4-4-2 formation and Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard as his most likely central pairing.

One of his main question-marks is over his strikeforce against Austria, with Wayne Rooney suspended, and Peter Crouch was therefore recalled to the squad after injury, although Emile Heskey's widely touted call-up failed to materialise.

With Andrew Johnson missing due to the knee injury which has kept him out of action for Crystal Palace for the past fortnight, Crouch will contest a spot in the team with Darren Bent and Jermain Defoe.

That is if Michael Owen can reassure the England medical staff of his fitness when the squad join up tomorrow, having pulled out of Newcastle's weekend game at Portsmouth with a dead leg.

Eriksson's other main dilemma is over his defence, although it is one which he relishes, with Sol Campbell and Ledley King recalled after injury to compete for places with Rio Ferdinand and Jamie Carragher.

Matthew Upson lost his place amid such fierce competition for places, while Stephen Warnock's lack of regular first-team football also cost him a place.

Eriksson, who was already without Gary Neville, Wayne Bridge and Kieron Dyer through injury, kept David James out of the squad for the two games which will decide whether England qualify automatically for the World Cup finals.